Norris Appointed to Lead Tennessee Blue Ribbon Task Force on Juvenile Justice

Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris (R-Collierville) has been appointed to co-chair Tennessee’s new Juvenile Justice Realignment Task Force that will undertake a comprehensive review of the state’s juvenile justice system.  The announcement regarding the formation of the task force, which is comprised of top leaders from all three branches of Tennessee government, was made by Lt. Governor Randy McNally and House Speaker Beth Harwell today.  Harwell will co-chair the panel with Norris.

 The 19-member group is charged with developing evidence-based policy recommendations that will lead to potential legislative action this year to protect public safety, hold offenders accountable and contain costs, while improving outcomes.  It includes Governor Bill Haslam or his representative, several juvenile court judges, public defenders, attorney generals, lawmakers, commissioners of the Department of Children’s Services, Education and the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and other key stakeholders.

 “We are committed to doing everything we can to get juvenile offenders back on track for success, while holding them accountable for their actions and protecting the public,” said Norris, who served last year on the state’s Juvenile Justice Realignment Task Force.  “This task force is a significant opportunity for us to examine fact- and evidence-based data to reform our system to achieve all of these goals.”

 Norris sponsored and co-sponsored legislation recommended by the Juvenile Justice Realignment Task Force during the recently-adjourned session.  This includes legislation providing juveniles with new educational opportunities to place them on a path to success, rather than a life of crime, and new laws to scale back court practices which are overly punitive, while balancing the need for public safety.

The new Blue Ribbon Task Force on Juvenile Justice is expected to hold monthly meetings with recommendations following by the end of the year, in time for the 2018 regular session of the Tennessee General Assembly.